​Let the count down begin! The holidays are fast approaching and with that comes all the goodness of the holidays; scrumptious food, parties, shopping, and happy get-togethers. Also with the season comes the possibility of adding on thousands of unnecessary calories, weight gain, and an increased waist line.

So to help you enjoy this special time of the year without taxing your body too costly, a little bit of “Active Time” here and there can easily ward off excess weight gain. You might actually end up losing weight (and still enjoy your holiday cake - moderately of course!)

Measure your daily steps and get a baseline or an “Average Daily Steps”

Add 10% more steps every week that follows

Bring the Gym to the Office:Challenging your muscles does not necessarily need big equipment or fancy weight machines. All it takes are a few movements that will work the major muscles groups making them stronger (and boosting your metabolic rate.)Below is a link for an Office Workout. It’s Only 3 simple exercises (Chair Squats / Low Back Extensions / Wall Push Ups.)

Always consult your physician before starting any new exercise routine.

Step Up:Researchers (in a study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine - Source) concluded that calories burned in only 2 minutes of stair climbing a day are enough to offset the average annual weight gain we see in American adults! There are stairs everywhere.

Take a picture of the same sneakers a month later and post it again along with how many miles you logged on them.

Let the bragging’ begin!

Take a Hike:As the weather cools down, it becomes exceptionally beautiful and inviting to go out and enjoy nature. We, in FL where I live, have it even better with comfortably cool temperatures and sunny days. Check out the below link for a comprehensive list of parks and features by state:American Trails

Bonus: Many parks also feature a “Fitness Trail”, a trail with exercises stations throughout the route to help you fit in some resistance and flexibility training with your cardiovascular workout!

Your mission, if you chose to accept it:

Complete a trail with fitness stations (optional) and see how long it takes you to complete the entire course.